Buddha assures kin of cop in Naxal custody

A day after Maoists abducted a police officer in West Midnapore district, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has assured the cop's family that the matter was being looked into.

After a meeting with Buddhadeb, Indrani -- the wife of officer-in-charge of Sankrail police station, Atindranath Dutta -- said they had conveyed to the chief minister Maoist leader Kishenji's demand that the women arrested by joint forces in West Midnapore district be released immediately.

"We hope that Kishenji will also keep his word that their hostage is safe," Dutta's father said.

Meanwhile, state Law Minister Rabilal Maitra visited the West Midnapore district earlier in the day.

Maoists abducted Dutta from a police station. The ultras, who came on motorbikes, also looted over Rs 9 lakh from a nearby State Bank of India branch before escaping.